The earliest surviving enactment specifically directed towards the press was passed in 1867, the Press and Registration of Books Act (PRB Act).

1. Press and Registration
of Books Act, 1867
Sherin P Shaji
17mamass02

2. Aims & Objectives of PRB Act
• To regulate of printing-press and
newspapers.
• To preserve of copies of books and
newspapers printed in India.
• For the registration of books and
newspapers.
• To provide guidelines for the publication
of newspapers
• To prevent publication of anonymous
literature.

3. History
• Advent of printing Press
• East India company make a collection of
the books and other publications in India
• A Bill was introduced in the Legislature for
the regulation of printing presses for the
registration of books and periodicals
containing news.

4. PRB contains….
• rules for the registration of books.
• rules for the making of declaration by the keepers of presses and publishers
of newspapers
• rules regulations for the delivery of books
• rules registration of books and newspapers
• penalties
• powers to the government to make rules and to exempt books
or newspapers from the provisions of this Act.

5. Overview
• Act on 22, March 1867
• 23 sections in 6 parts
• Extents all over India

6. Amendments
• The Registrar of Newspapers of India
(RNI)
• 1950 to 2011
• 20 years b/w 1963 to 1983

7. Key points….

8. Section 3
• name of the printer
• the place of printing
• the name of the publisher
• the place of publication.

9. Penalties
• Part 4
• Section 12 to 17
• 2 years + 6 months
• There are 9 types of instances to get
punished

10. Part 5 and 5A
• Registration Of Books
• Registration Of Newspapers

11. Section 19
• 19A. Press Register and other officers
• 19B. RNI 1956
• 19D. Annual Statement by newspapers
• 19G. Annual Report

12. Provisions to Start a Publication…
• Name and Address of the editor, printer
and publisher
• Address of the premises where printing is
done
• Language and periodicity of the
publication
• Suggested titles (three or more)

13. Power to exclude any class of
books from operation of act
• Section 21

14. Defects
• British act
• No attempt was made to review the Act
• Light penalties
• Changes in 150 years